HAITI AND EXPLUSION OF U.S. AMBASSADORS FROM

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 001350 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR, DRL, S/CRS, INR/IAA SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL HA SUBJECT: HAITI AND EXPLUSION OF U.S. AMBASSADORS FROM BOLIVIA, VENEZUELA REF: PORT AU PRINCE 99473 Classified By: Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson. Reason: E.O. 12958 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Ambassador Sanderson raised reftel points with Foreign Minister Alrich Richard in her introductory courtesy call on the newly-appointed minister September 18. Alrich said he was very surprised by the two expulsions. He hoped, however, that the U.S. would not make Haiti's assistance and commercial relationship with Venezuela an issue because of this. ¶2. (C) Additionally, PolCouns made reftel points to Presidential Chief of Staff Fritz Longchamp September 18. Longchamp called the expulsions "unprecedented." He took on board reftel points that the U.S. has deliberately avoided ratcheting up negative rhetoric with Venezuela, despite that country's history of provocative behavior toward the U.S. ¶3. (C) Comment: While GOH officials appeared surprised by the expulsions of the two U.S. Ambassadors, the Foreign Minister's comments confirm Embassy's belief that this will not/not lead the GOH to curtail its assistance and energy relationship with Venezuela. SANDERSON